Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Election

“Being a member of the university’s Senate has been a privilege and an incredibly meaningful experience for me. It has given me the opportunity not only to contribute to important discussions but also to represent and amplify the views of colleagues and communities across the university. I have particularly valued being able to bring my experience of teaching and of EDI into these conversations helping to advocate for a socially just and inclusive university."

- Dr Ioanna Kapantai, Senior Lecturer Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor Craig Beall

The UK higher‑education sector is facing its most severe financial pressures in decades. Sustaining and growing our University in this environment will require us to think differently, act decisively and to embrace new models of working. 

Change is a constant. Yet change also creates opportunity. By moving with purpose, we can identify and occupy strategic niches before our competitors do and ensure Exeter continues to thrive.

As Associate Professor in Experimental Diabetes and Research Theme Lead for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Health, my work sits at the interface of fundamental biology, translational science and increasingly towards commercial innovation. I lead an interdisciplinary research team and contribute to national research policy conversations through previous and current committee roles including the Society for Endocrinology Science Committee, the JDRF Scientific Advisory Council, the Diabetes UK Research Steering Group, and the Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Research Committee. These experiences have strengthened my ability, and resolve, to drive strategy.  To do that we need to build consensus.

I am also deeply committed to social change and to the power of education in narrowing inequalities. This commitment is reflected in my public engagement, my science writing and my membership with organisations such as the Association of British Science Writers and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

If elected to Senate, I bring a collaborative mindset and a positive strategic outlook. I will work to ensure that Exeter responds to the current sector challenges with ambition, integrity and innovation.

Professor Gavin Buckingham

My name is Gavin Buckingham and I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences. I am running to bring an experienced voice for research culture, open research, and staff well-being to the University Senate.

I have been a member of the University since 2016, and was elected as a senator from when I arrived, serving from 2016-2019. During this first term, I also served as an ECR Rep. on the Exeter Academic Working Group. Currently, I hold several leadership roles at the University of Exeter, including the Institutional co-lead for the UK Reproducibility Network, with a specific focus on research culture. In this role, I helped establish the Open Research Awards in 2023 to reward open and reproducible research practices in PGR students, and advocated for the inclusion of promotion criteria that explicitly reward research integrity and open research. I also co-lead the Exeter Immersive Research Network, and in this role have gained a clear appreciation for the immense value of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Another core passion of mine is mentoring early-career academics to help navigate the most challenging times in their careers through both active mentorship and workshops aimed at unveiling the ‘hidden curriculum’. Finally, I have been a member of Exeter’s UCU branch committee since 2022, first as a Department Rep., and more recently as the Health and Safety Rep. (2024-25) and the HLS Faculty Rep. (2025-present). I am also a branch caseworker, and this role in particular has made me acutely aware of the day-to-day realities and pressures of our working environment. I am deeply committed to tackling the broken incentive structures in modern academia, and helping to build policies and culture at Exeter which genuinely support staff welfare.

Professor Gavin Price

I am standing for election to Senate because I want to play a constructive role in shaping the University’s future at a time when higher education faces both significant challenges and important opportunities. As Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Research & Impact in the Department of Psychology, I would bring to Senate experience of academic leadership, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to evidence-informed and collegial governance.

My career has spanned leading institutions in the UK and US, including the University of Exeter and Vanderbilt University. Working across these settings has given me broad perspective on university governance, academic leadership, and the importance of transparent, inclusive, and well-judged decision-making. At Vanderbilt, I held a number of leadership and service roles, including representing the university in engagement with the US Senate. That experience reinforced the importance of thoughtful advocacy, careful listening, and representing institutional interests with clarity and integrity.

If elected, I would use this role to advocate strongly for the conditions that allow universities to flourish: research excellence, academic freedom, education of the highest quality, and a working environment in which staff can thrive. I believe Senate should be a clear voice for protecting the core academic mission of the University, ensuring that decisions are guided not only by short-term pressures but by long-term academic values. I would support policies and priorities that strengthen Exeter’s research culture, protect space for intellectually ambitious and independent scholarship, and maintain the highest standards in teaching and student experience.

At a volatile time for higher education, I believe Senate also has an important role in helping protect and support academic staff. Universities ask a great deal of their staff, and sustained excellence depends on people having the security, trust, and support needed to do their best work. I would therefore advocate for fair and sustainable workloads, strong mentoring and career development, and governance that is transparent, evidence-informed, and attentive to the realities of academic life. If elected, I would aim to be a thoughtful, independent, and approachable member of Senate, working to help ensure that Exeter remains both academically ambitious and a genuinely supportive place to work and study.

Professor Musarrat Maisha Reza

*Requires re-election to complete term of office as Senate Representative on Council*

I am seeking re-election to Senate, having been an active and impactful voice for colleagues and students across both Senate and Council. During my first term, I have contributed to key institutional decisions and ensured that our collective academic voice shapes the University’s direction with integrity, equity and ambition. My advocacy for the fair implementation of initiatives such as C4C, ensuring they do not place undue burden on staff, alongside championing appropriate support and career guidance for colleagues affected by TERS, are key examples of this commitment.

My contributions have been both strategic and operational, including:

1. Establishing and embedding the Director of EDI roles across department leadership teams, strengthening leadership accountability for inclusion
2. Leading the largest department-WICC in the faculty with seven workstreams, driving notable improvements in staff and student experience
3. Advocating for equitable TNE strategies to ensure global engagement does not widen opportunity gaps
4. Contributing to the Education Board strategy for two years, shaping initiatives to address student awarding gaps
5. Serving as elected Senate representative on Council, influencing institutional governance and strategy
6. Supporting senior leadership appointments (Dean of Education, Dean of Online, and DVC-Education)
7. Sitting on Senate Appeal Board, ensuring fairness, transparency, and due process

My national and international leadership experience enables me to represent and amplify Exeter’s voice in strategic spaces confidently. If re-elected, I will continue to champion excellence within our challenging higher education and global landscape by supporting diversification of income streams, expanding global engagement for our education-focused staff and strengthening Exeter’s international reputation. I will also continue to advocate for our health and well-being and strengthen our culture of inclusion and belonging.

Re-election will enable me to continue my role on Council, as I uphold Exeter’s values and contribute to a Senate that delivers with purpose and impact.